Means for cleaning equipment



June 10, 1958 L. L. NORTHRUP, JR 2,838,289

MEANS FOR CLEANING EQUIPMENT Filed A ril 30, 1954 INVENTOR. Leonard L. Northrup, Jr.

-A TTORNEY United States Patent MEANS FOR CLEANlNG EQUIPMENT Leonard L. Northrup, Jr., Dallas, Tex. 1 Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,670

'4 Claims. (Cl. 259-1) This invention relates to a means for cleaning equipment and more particularly to a means for cleaning equipment which employ a circulated or agitated fluid or solvent as the cleaning agent.

Aircraft and other type of equipment is often cleaned by immersion in strong cleansing fluids or solvents, such aschlorinated hydrocarbons and phenolic bodies or the like. It is of course desirable that these solvents be agitated or circulated about the equipment in order to reduce to a minimum the length of time of immersion. These strong solvents, however, could not be agitated in conventional machines due to their rapid rates of evaporation. Accordingly, it is desirable that a cleaning machine ;be-provided which permits the agitation or circulation of such strong solvents about the equipment to be cleaned by sealing oil the upper surface of the solvent even during agitation of the solvent.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for cleaning equipment by the circula: tion of strong solvents thereabout.

Another object is to provide a new and improved clean ing "machine for circulating or agitating'a cleaning fluid about equipment to be cleaned while preventing evaporation of the solvent. I v

Still another object is to provide a new and improved cleaning machine of the type described having a means for sealing ofi the upper surface of the cleansing fluid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cleaning machine having a movable bafile for closing the open top of a tank wherein a cleansing fluid is contained and means for retaining a sealing fluid above the movable baflie.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

.Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning machine with a portion of the baflle broken away to show the internal structure of the tank;

Figure 2 is a fragmentarysectional view of the cleaning machine showing the baffle in fully closed position and withthe sprocket chain panel removed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the bafile in open position; and, f g

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing the manner-in which'the two bafile sections interlock-when the bafileis in closed position:

Referring to the drawing, the cleaning machine includes a tank 11 having four vertical walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 and a bottom 16 which is adapted to contain a cleaning fluid. Fluid circulating or agitating rotary impellers 17, only one of which is shown in Figure 1 though a plurality may be employed or mounted in recesses 18 formed in the bottom and a grid or wire mesh frame 19 is disposed in the bottom upon which the equipment to be cleaned is supported.

The end walls 13 and 15 and the front side wall 12 2,838,289 Patented June 10, 1958 are of greater height than the rear side wall 14. A hori- 'zontal rearward projection or bay 20 extends rearwardly from the rear wall 14 of the tank and includes a bottom 21, a top 22, a rear 23 and side walls 24 and 25 formed by extension of the tank walls 13 and 15.

A bafiie 26 having a lower section 27 and an upper section 28 for closing the open top of the tank is disposed between the walls of the tank for movement to open position in the bay 20 as shown in Figure 3. Opposite'end sides of the lower baffle section 27 are supported on ways 29, only one of which is seen in Figures 2 and 3, which may be made of angles mounted in any suitable manner on the end walls 13 and 15 of the tank and the extensions 24 and 25 thereof. 7 I

The upper baflie section is similarly supported on ways 30, only one of which is seen in Figures 2 and 3, which are mounted in any suitable manner on the end walls 13 and 15 of the tank and the extensions 24 and 25 thereof.

The front edge of the upper baffle when the baflle is in the closed position abuts the reinforcing angle 31 mounted on the front wall 12 of the tank, the extreme front edge portion 32 of the baflle extending upwardly and forwardly over the angle 31. A dependent front stop strip 32 on the front edge of the upper batfle section is adapted to engage the front angle 33secured to forwardly from the position shown in Figure 3. The i engagement of the flanges 34 and 35 of the baflie section also tends to prevent flow of fluids between the overlapping portions of the baflie sections when the baflie is in the closed position shown in Figure 2. The rear end of the lower baflle section is provided with a dependent strip 36 which contacts the bottom- 16 of the bay 20 and this tends to prevent flow of fluid past the lower rear edge of the lower baflle section.

The baflle sections are moved between the positions shownin Figures 2 and 3 by an air motor 37 or other suitable means which is connected to a drive shaft 38 by any suitable transmission 39. The drive shaft drives a pair of sprocekt chains 40, only one of which is shown in Figures 2 and 3, disposed adjacent to and inwardly of the end walls 13 and 15. Each sprocket chain extends about sprockets 41 and 42 fixed to the drive shaft 38 and the stud shafts 43, respectively. The drive shaft and the stub shafts are suitably parallel in the end walls 13 and 15 of the tank. A panel 44 on each of the end walls 13' and I5 protects the sprocket chains and sprockets from accidental contact. with tank.

Vertical plates 45 secured to opposite sides of the upper 'baffle section extend upwardly between the panels 44 and the endwalls 13 and 15 of the tank and are secured to'the sprocket chain, as at 48. It willnow be apparent that when the drive shaft 38 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the lower portion of the sprocket chain moves rearwardly causing the upper baflle section to move rearwardly toward open position, and that when the drive shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the lower portion of the sprocket moves forwardly causing the upper baflle section to move forwardly toward closed position. The air motor 37 is controlled by suit able valves (not shown) to cause the drive shaft to rotate selectively in either direction.

parts loaded into the The baffle sections are provided with reinforcing angle members 46 where necessary and desired.

In use, when the baflle sections are in their nested open positions shown in Figure 3', the parts to be cleaned are placed on the wire grill'19and enough cleansing fluid or solvent is placed in the tank to barely cover the baffle sections 27 and 28. The air motor 37 is then energized and drives the drive shaft 33 in a counterclockwise direction. This causes the upper baflie section to move forwardly while the lower baflle section remains stationary until the rear flange 35 of the upper section engages the front flange 34 of the lower section. This engagement of the flanges causes the lower section to move with the upper section until the baffle sections reach the closed positions shown in Figures 1 and 2. The air motor is then de-energized by manual actuation of a suitable switch, not shown. This switch could, of course, be actuated by one of the battle sections to provide automatic dc-energization of the air motor if thiswere desired.

Sealing fluid, such as water, oil or the like, is then introduced into the tank until it reaches the approximate level indicated by the broken line 47. The sealing fluid is lighter than the cleaning fluid and thus will remain stratified over the cleaning fluid unless it is agitated. The impellers are then rotated by a suitable driving means, such as an electric motor, not shown, to circulate or agitate the cleaning fluid around the parts supported on the wire grill. The cleaning fluid below the bafile is thus strongly agitated but the baflle prevents any agitation of the fluid above the battle. As a consequence, the sealing liquid is not agitated and thus prevents evaporation of the cleaning fluid.

After the parts are cleaned, the air motor is energized by actuation of a suitable switch to rotate the drive shaft in a clockwise manner. This causes first the upper baffle section to move rearwardly until its front flange 32 abuts the angle 33 of the lower baffle section and then the two bafile sections move rearwardly together until they reach the position shown in Figure 3. The air motor is then de-energized by actuation of a suitable switch, which actuation could again be performed automatically ifdesired. The tank is now open and the cleaned parts can be removed from the tank.

If the cleaning solution is not too contaminated, other parts can then be placed in the tank for cleaning and the above sequence of operations repeated.

It will now be apparent that a new method of clean ing has been described which comprises placing the objects to be cleaned in a tank of cleaning fluid having a top layer of sealing fluid over its upper surface to prevent evaporation of the cleaning fluid, inserting baffle means between the sealing means and the main body of the cleaning fluid to prevent agitation of the main body of the cleaning fluid from imparting agitation to the sealing fluid, and agitating the main body of the cleaning fluid about the objects to be cleaned.

It will also be apparent that a cleaning machine has been illustrated and described which includes a tank having a baffle including a pair of nesting sections for closing the tank when the baflie sections are in closed position, and means for moving the baflle sections between open and closed positions. -It will also be apparent that a layer of sealing fluid may be disposed over the battle which serves to prevent the agitation of 4.. the cleaning fluid caused by impellers in the tank to be communicated to the sealing fluid. It will also be apparent that the use of a baflle having two nesting sections permits utmost utilization of space and ease of operation.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning machine including: a tank having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from the walls, a horizontal bafl le movable horizontally to close the tank, a bay secured to the tank and extending horizontally therefrom for receiving said baffle when it is in open po sition; means for agitating liquid in the tank; means for moving said baflle between an open position wherein it is disposed in said bay and a closed position wherein it closes said tank; and means for holding liquid in said bay and over said baffle.

2. A cleaning machine including: a tank having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from the bottom, a pair of baflle sections slidably mounted on a pair of parallel opposed walls of said tanks, said baffle sections bein movable between open nested position and closed extended position, said baffles closing said tank when in said closed position; means for moving said battles between said open and closed positions; means for agitating liquid in the tank; said baflle sections when in closed positions preventing communication of agitation from liquid below the baffle sections to liquid over said baflle sections.

3. A cleaningmachine including: a tank having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from the bottom, two pairs of opposed aligned ways mounted on a pair of opposite walls of said tank, a lower baffle section slidably mounted on one pair of said ways, an upper battle section slidably mounted on the other pair of said ways, a bay on one side of said tank, said ways extending into said bay, means for moving said upper battle section between an open position in said bay and a closed position over said tank, means on said baffle sections engageable with each other for causing said lower, baflle section to move with said upper baflle section after said upper baflle section has moved a predetermined distance toward closed'and open positions, means for agitating liquid in said tank, said baflie sections when in closed positions closing said tank and preventing communication of agitation of a liquid below the baffle sections to liquid over said baflie sections.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein: said means for moving said upper baflle sections includes an endless flexible member mounted on and adjacent a wall of the tank; means connecting said upper baffle section to said endless member; and means for moving said endless member selectively in-opposite directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,492,132 Ka-ster Apr. 29, 1924 2,228,135 Franwick Ian. 7, 1941 2,310,569 Booth Feb. 9, 1943 2,330,655 Zucker Sept. 28,1943 2,666,440 Collins Jan. 19, 1954 

